Tips for planning a cold weather vacation with kids

If you’d rather a cold weather vacation than sipping cocktails in the sun you’re in luck. Winter is a great time to vacation and for many cold weather destinations winter is the low season. This means that you’ll be able to save some serious money while still having an amazing vacation. If you and your family are planning a cold weather getaway here are some tips to help you have a great holiday.

How cold is cold?

If you don’t live somewhere that typically faces cold winter temperatures than you’ll need to seriously consider how cold is cold. For example if winter to you means temperatures of 50F than somewhere that averages 10F is going to be a huge change. That’s not to say you shouldn’t go it just means you need to realistically consider that change in temperature and plan accordingly.

Having the Right Clothing

When you visit somewhere warm, it doesn’t matter too much what you wear – chances are you’re in your bathing suit most of the time anyway! But, when you’re taking a cold weather vacation you do need to pay very close attention to the weather and dress accordingly. Plan to wear layers. Have a good pair of boots if you’ll be somewhere with snow. Bring a warm winter jacket, many winter wear jackets come with tags that state the temperatures they are best used with – pay attention to this. You might think your “winter” jacket is good enough, but that doesn’t mean it will be for your destination. You also should bring hats, gloves, and scarves to protect your face and outer extremities. Also don’t forget a pair of sunglasses and sunscreen as the glare off of white snow can be just as damaging to your skin, and specifically your face, as the sun on a hot day at the beach.

Planning Your Activities

When traveling with children you’ll want to have a few plans in place that allow you to make the most of your vacation even if bad weather rolls in. Outdoor activities can be lots of fun but if the temperatures drop or there’s a blizzard you may need alternate plans. Find out what some of the indoor options are for your destination and keep them on hand as a backup.

Be Safe Outside

Just like you would when vacationing in a hot weather destination, limit the amount of time children are outside. They can quickly become very cold and face frostbite or hypothermia before they know it. This is especially true for children who aren’t used to being outside in the cold and don’t know what to expect. Go inside for frequent warm ups. If clothing becomes wet, go inside immediately and put dry clothing on to limit the risk of hypothermia and exposure.

There are plenty of activities and destinations that are wonderful to visit during the winter months. You’ll need to do a little extra planning (and packing!) but are sure to have a memorable experience.